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This is my third time playing with the Guts Berserker Armor version. The first time was many years ago with a FIGMA toy, and the second was a THREEZERO product a few years back. Playing with it again today, the experience is even more profound because it's truly meticulously crafted. The previous SHF Guts was repeatedly criticized by me, but this time, it feels as if these two toys weren't even made by the same manufacturer. So, just how good is this one?
1. Excellent Armor Design
First, the lines on the armor are incredibly detailed, revealing even more depth under lighting. Zooming in, this toy doesn't look like an SHF-sized piece.
The previous non-berserk Guts was frustrating to play with, mainly due to constantly falling accessories. This time, since Guts' equipment automatically disappears after berserking, there are far fewer parts to drop, so you won't be constantly picking things up while playing.
If there's a minor issue, on my particular figure, the right chest armor connected to the right shoulder tends to detach frequently, causing some minor inconvenience. However, it's easily reattached, so it's manageable.
2. Good Articulation
The range of motion is excellent. It's certainly sufficient for most poses, allowing for many wide-stance actions. The feet have a large range of articulation and excellent ground contact, which is also very good when swapping them with the folding leg parts introduced later.
3. The Folding Leg Parts Deserve Praise
Can the two original legs be fully folded? The answer is no, unless two separate legs are specifically made for it. The articulation of the original legs is already quite good. However, when squatting, they don't quite achieve the perfect fit. For this part, only an additional pair of legs can fully replicate the classic squatting sword-resting pose.
4. How Can the Cape Be So Cool?
The "Black Swordsman" earned his name directly because of this cape. This cape is lightweight and full of energy, with a highly durable bendable wire inside that's practically "twist-proof." Many dynamic effects can be achieved with the cape, and they look incredibly natural.
5. Those Hands Finally Have Strength
As for the right hand, it was the most criticized aspect. In the previous SHF Guts, it was simply too loose. Holding the sword with one hand was an impossible task. So, last time, after playing for a short while, I immediately put it back in the box to avoid the frustration of not being able to achieve cool poses.
On a side note, the cannon arm has a decent play feel, but it's ultimately too small and lacks effect parts, so it still falls a bit short.
6. Three Helmet Types
To stay true to the original work, there are a total of three helmet forms (according to their appearance order in the manga). When Guts was severely injured, he donned the armor and unleashed divine power, gaining superhuman strength with reduced pain. The first form is the skull head, with a very detailed sculpt (which disappeared shortly after its appearance).
The second form takes on a dog-like appearance, with his human features gone (Berserker state) (where the left eye is vivid red, and the right eye is a faint dark red).
The third form is the state of recovering/maintaining rationality, yet still in a berserk frenzy. All three appearances are faithfully reproduced. As for the head sculpts, even though not much is visible once the helmet is on, they were still not treated carelessly.
One is a normal expression, the other is a ferocious one, and there are even some black stripes on the cheek areas. Honestly, with three helmet types, so many wishes are fulfilled at once; what more is there to say?
Thanks to a friend who gifted a dedicated clear stand, this toy truly comes alive. Many poses can be smoothly achieved, and with the cape's versatility, the sense of dynamism is greatly enhanced, making it incredibly fun to play with.
As a Berserk fan, this toy is truly unmissable; once you play with it, you'll undoubtedly find it irresistible. If the previous Guts release had been even half as good as this one, the feeling would have been much better!